CARACAS: The UK, France, Germany, Spain and other European countries have officially recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela.

It comes after President Nicolás Maduro defiantly rejected the EU’s Sunday deadline to call snap elections. Russia – a backer of Mr Maduro – accused EU countries of meddling in Venezuela’s affairs. In a TV interview, he warned that US President Donald Trump would leave the White House “stained with blood” if he intervened militarily in the crisis, which arose after Mr Maduro’s disputed re-election last year. Mr Guaidó said on Sunday he would build an international coalition to deliver humanitarian aid to Venezuelans. As head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Mr Guaidó says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate.